Building block erection kit including detachable electric contact element

ABSTRACT

AN ERECTION KIT INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF BUILDING BLOCKS HAVING ON THE RESPECTIVE SURFACES THEREOF EITHER ELONGATED UNDERCUT OPEN-ENDED GROOVES AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH IS PROVIDED WITH A WIDER PORTION SO DIMENSIONED AS TO RECEIVE A COUPLING HEAD, OR UNDERCUT COUPLING HEADS RECEIVABLE IN THESE GROOVES THROUGH THE OPEN ENDS OR THROUGH THE WIDER PORTION OF THE RESPECTIVE GROOVE. AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CONTACT ELEMENT FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRICAL ENERGY BETWEEN A SOURCE AND A USER DEVICE IS PROVIDED WHICH INCLUDES A FIRST PORTION CONFIGURATED SO AS TO BE RECEIVABLE IN THE RESPECTIVE GROOVES AND A SECTION ON THE FIRST PORTION WHICH IS RECEIVABLE IN THE WIDER PORTION OF SUCH GROOVE TO THEREBY PREVENT THE FIRST PORTION FROM BEING SHIFTED IN THE GROOVE, AND A CONNECTED SECOND PORTION WHICH PROJECTS FROM AN OPEN END OF THE GROOVE WHEN THE FIRST PORTION IS RECEIVED THEREIN.

Jan. 12, 1971 AVFISCHER 3,553,333

- BUILDING BLOCK ERECTION KIT INCLUDING DETACHABLE ELECTRIC CONTACTELEMENT Filed July 31. 1968 Fig.1

lnventon 1112 mm F/SCHEIZ mz/w/f f4 a,

United States Patent O F Int. Cl. A6311 33/08 US. Cl. 46--16 5 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An erection kit includes a plurality ofbuilding blocks having on the respective surfaces thereof eitherelongated undercut open-ended grooves at least one of which is providedwith a wider portion s0 dimensioned as to receive a coupling head, orundercut coupling heads receivable in these grooves through the openends or through the wider portion of the respective groove. Anelectrically conductive contact element for conducting electrical energybetween a source and a user device is provided which includes a firstportion configurated so as to be receivable in the respective groovesand a section on the first portion which is receivable in the widerportion of such groove to thereby prevent the first portion from beingshifted in the groove, and a connected second portion which projectsfrom an open end of the groove when the first portion is receivedtherein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally toerecting kits, and more particularly to the type of erecting kit whereinstructural elements to be connected are provided either with undercutgrooves or with coupling heads receivable in such grooves. Still morespecifically, the present invention relates to an electricallyconductive element for use in conjunction with such a kit for conductingelectrical energy between a source and a user device.

It is well known that the use of erecting kits is of particular interestto a child if the kit enables the child to produce true-to-lifeconstructions. Particularly movable constructions, such as vehicles orthe like, stimulate the imagination of children playing with this typeof toy. Of course, if a vehicle, that is a user device, is to be capableof moving it must be provided with motive power. This is usually done byproviding an electromotor. While it is possible to utilize batteriescarried in the vehicle or the like, it is frequently desirable to supplythe electrical energy from an external source for various reasons,including the fact that batteries tend to weaken relatively quickly, andalso because a child will desire to provide the electrical energy in themanner in Which it is supplied in the actual life-size constructions,for instance via a rail and sliding contacts, or the like.

It is of course already known to provide sliding contacts which areconnected to the model, that is the vehicle or the like, via speciallyconfigurated structural elements. However, because of their specialnature, these specially configurated structural elements have only asingle use, namely to connect the sliding contacts to the mobile modeland cannot be used for anything else. Naturally, this increases thecomplexity of the construction kit, and accordingly the expense thereforwithout, however, providing true versatility because this specialstructural elements have only a single purpose. Another disadvantage ofthis type of arrangement is that it is frequently difiicult to add thesliding contacts to a completed or nearly completed model, oftennecessitating the removal of individual structural elements or entiregroups of such structural elements making up the model, so that thesliding contact can be secured to the model, that is so that it ispossible to add the specially configurated structural element which inturn will hold the sliding contact on the model. Of course, thisadversely influences the interest with which the child approachesplaying with the building kit.

It is thus a general object of the present invention to overcome thesedisadvantages.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide,in an erecting kit of the type under d scussion, an electricallyconductive contact element for conducting electrical energy between asource and a user device which is considerably simpler and moreversatile than what is presently known in this field.

The contact element according to the present invention is not toinfluence, or to influence only to the minimum possible extent, theversatility of connection between the structural elements of theerecting kit.

'Further, this contact element is to provide reliable electrical contactwith the source even. if the spacing between the element and the sourcechanges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the above object, and otherswhich will become apparent hereafter, I provide, in an erection kit ofthe type including a plurality of structural elements each having aplurality of surfaces, at least some of such surfaces of at least someelements being provided with undercut projecting coupling head and atleast some surfaces of at least some elements being provided withcomplementarily undercut open-ended grooves of which at least one oneach element so provided includes an insertion aperture having across-section so dimensioned as to permit insertion of a coupling headnormal to the elongation of the groove, the improvement which consistsin the provision of an electrically conductive contact element forconducting electrical energy between a source and a user device. Mynovel contact element includes a first portion configurated so as to bereceivable in the groove having the insertion aperture and this firstportion includes a section receivable in this aperture. A connectedsecond portion projects from an open end of the groove when the firstportion is received therein.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammaticillustration showing a structural element With the electricallyconductive element according to the present invention secured thereto;and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the electrically conductiveelement of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a structuralelement in form of a building block or the like, which is provided onsome of its surfaces with longitudinally extending undercut grooves 2.Adjacent the end face 3 these grooves are pro vided with insertingapertures 4 so dimensioned that an undercut coupling head, configuratedcomplementary to the cross-sectional configuration of the grooves 2, andprovided on another building block, can be inserted through theseapertures 4- into the grooves 2 so as to connect the (nonillustrated)other building block with the one shown. Such a construction is shown inmore detail in my US. Pat. No. 3,479,763, which issued from copendingapplication Ser. No. 514,165, filed Nov. 8, 1965 and entitled AssemblyKit. Reference may be had to this application for further detailsconcerning the coupling heads and the undercut, grooves.

The end face 3 is also provided with an undercut groove corresponding tothe grooves '2 and having open ends communicating with the insertingapertures 4 of two of the grooves 2, as shown.

As illustrated, the novel electrically conductive element 6 according tothe present invention is inserted into the groove 5'. This element 6 isshown in detail in FIG. 2 where it will be seen to consist of a contactportion 7 and a securing or mounting portion 8. The latter consists oftwo sections, identified with reference numerals 9 and 10. Thecross-sectional configuration of the section 9 corresponds to thecross-sectional configuration of the undercut grooves 2 and 5, whereasthe cross-sectional configuration of the section 10 corresponds to thecross-sectional configuration of the wider portion or insertingapertures 4 provided in th%e grooves. A transverse bore 11 is providedin the section 9 so that a connector, a cable or the like can be securedto the element 6 by insertion into the bore 11. This lbore may extendtransversely to the longitudinal axis of the element 6, or it may extendlongitudinally of the latter.

The portion 8 is provided with a longitudinal bore or recess 12 intowhich the contact portion 7 is telescoped. An expansion spring 13 isalso received in the bore 12 urging the portions 7 and 8 apart to theirmaximum extended position, a suitable abutment being provided to preventthe portion 7 from completely moving out of the bore 10'.

Any electrically conductive material is suitable for the construction ofthe element 6.

It will be appreciated that by inserting the element 6 into one of thegrooves as shown in FIG. 1, abutment of the section 10 with theshoulders bounding the insertion apertures 4 will prevent shifting ofthe element 6 in the groove, that is undesired insertion of the elementinto the groove to such an extent that the portion 7 would no longerextend outwardly beyond the surface of the building block or structuralelement. Of course, if a building block constitutes a part of a vehicleor other mobile o bjection constructed with the erecting kit, then theportion 7 may contact a rail or the like through which electrical energyis supplied. Because of the spring-loaded construction of the element 6it is immaterial whether there are variations in the spacing between thebuilding block to which the element 6 is secured, and the rail or thelike because the spring-loaded element 6 will compensate for suchvariations and will reliably maintain good electrical contact. Ofcourse, the element 6 may be inserted into one of the grooves 2, ifdesired, rather than into the groove 5. 'In this case it may forinstance be used for electrically connecting shafts or axles received insimilar grooves provided in a plurality of longitudinally connected onesof the structural elements, whose grooves 2 carrying these shafts oraxles are longitudinally aligned with one another.

Regardless of how the element 6 is utilized, however, it Will beappreciated that the contact portion 7 of the element 6 projects onlybeyond one surface, either a lateral surface or an end face of therespective structural element in which it is secured, so that otherstructural elements may be connected with this one structural element atall others of the surfaces thereof Without interference by the element6. Of course, it will also be understood that the telescopicconstruction illustrated in the drawing is not absolutely necessary andthat the portions 7 and *8 could also be of one-piece construction.However, I currently prefer the construction as it is illustrated in thedrawing because of its greater versatility.

-It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in anerecting kit, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown,since various modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are in tended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In an erection kit of the type including a plurality of structuralelements each having a plurality of surfaces, at least some of suchsurfaces of at least some elements being provided with undercutprojecting coupling heads and at least some surfaces of at least someelements being provided with complementarily undercut open-ended groovesof which at least one on each element so provided includes an insertionaperture having a cross-section so dimensioned as to permit insertion ofa coupling head normal to the elongation of the groove and registeringwith said groove to form a passage therewith, the improvernentconsisting in the provision of an electrically conductive contactelement having means for conducting electrical energy between a sourceand a user device, including a first portion configurated so as to bereceivable in said one groove and having a section of a size receivablein said aperture 'but not in said one groove, and a connected secondportion projecting from an open end of said passage when said firstportion is received therein.

2. In an erection kit as defined in claim 1, one of said portions ofsaid contact element being telescoped into the other.

3. In an erection kit as defined in claim '2, said one portion beingtelescopically movable with reference to said other portion between afully projecting position and a partly projecting position; and furthercomprising biasing means urging said one portion to said fullyprojecting position.

4. In an erection kit as defined in claim 3, said biasing meanscomprising an expansion spring received in said other portion andabutting against an inner end of said one portion.

5. In an erection kit as defined in claim 2, both of said portionsbeing. of substantially rod-shaped configuration.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,076,286 2/ 1963 Czecholinski46-25X 3,252,248 5/1966 Zalkind 46-244 FOREIGN PATENTS 964,668 5/ 1957Germany 46244 F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 46-221, 244

